The number of firms registering in Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) from January-May this year dropped 13.35 per cent year-on-year to 2,731, Department of Business Development director-general Vuttikrai Leewiraphan announced on Monday.

Their total registered capital was 6.790 billion baht ($220 million), down 18.32 per cent year-on-year.

The EEC covers Chachoengsao, Rayong and Chonburi provinces.

The real estate sector tops the rankings of new EEC registrations with 443 firms and total registered capital of 1.413 billion baht, followed by the construction sector with 202 firms and total capital of 321 million baht, and real estate agents at 124 with registered capital of 369 million baht.

The current number of registered businesses in the EEC is 74,073 with total capital of 1.959 billion baht. Of these, 54,357 are in Chonburi, 13,909 in Rayong and 5,807 in Chachoengsao.

Foreign investment in EEC firms has reached 788.156 billion baht, representing 40.22 per cent of total investment in the corridor. Foreigners can take a maximum 49.9 per cent stake in Thai companies.

Japan tops the EEC foreign investment rankings at 379.135 billion baht, followed by China at 83.767 billion baht and Singapore at 43.235 billion baht.

THE NATION (THAILAND)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK